Nov. 4 8:00 PM
Asylum Hill Congregational Church
814 Asylum Avenue
Hartford, CT 06105
Xavier Jara was born in 1993. He started playing guitar at the age of 12. At 15 he began studying with Alan Johnston at the MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis, MN. In 2009, Xavier won 1st place in both the Schubert Club and Thursday Musical scholarship competitions. He has played numerous recitals associated with these competitions including a concert for Dr. Paul Wirth’s “Salon se Leve” concert series. In 2011, he won 1st place in the senior division of the prestigious Guitar Foundation of America Competition, as well as 1st place in the youth division of the Indiana International Guitar Competition. Currently, Xavier studies at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris in the class of Olivier Chassain. At the same time, he studies privately with Judicael Perroy.
Since then, he has won 1st prize in the 2012 Andrés Segovia competition in Velbert, Germany, 1st prize at the Boston Guitarfest, 1st prize at the international guitar competition of Viseu (Portugal), 1st prize at the Sinaia international guitar competition in Romania and also preformed on the american national public radio program “From the Top”.
2017-2018 Concert Season
![Duo Orfeo <br><font style="e;font-size: 0.65em"e;>Saturday, September 23, 2017</font>](https://ctguitar.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/duo_orfeo_600_x_600-200x200.jpg?quality=100.3017081513240 "Duo Orfeo <br><font style="e;font-size: 0.65em"e;>Saturday, September 23, 2017</font>")
Playing a rare and eclectic repertoire on both classical guitars, Jamie Balmer and Joseph Ricker as Duo Orfeo are emerging as one of the most distinctive voices in the classical music world. Duo Orfeo draws their repertoire [...]
![Glenn Roth <br><font style="e;font-size: 0.65em"e;>Saturday, October 14, 2017</font>](https://ctguitar.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/roth_600_x_600-200x200.jpg?quality=100.3017081513240 "Glenn Roth <br><font style="e;font-size: 0.65em"e;>Saturday, October 14, 2017</font>")
Norwalk native, Glenn is a sensational fingerstyle guitarist, his compositions suggest moods and narratives that compel the listener to fill in the details. Glenn Roth is not your typical commuter from Connecticut. Instead of a [...]
![Guitar Day! 2017 <br><font style="e;font-size: 0.65em"e;>Saturday, October 14, 2017</font>](https://ctguitar.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/guitar_day_2017_600_x_600-200x200.jpg?quality=100.3017081513240 "Guitar Day! 2017 <br><font style="e;font-size: 0.65em"e;>Saturday, October 14, 2017</font>")
An all-day guitar extravaganza featuring concerts and workshops by extraordinary guitarists: special instruction by outstanding artist Glenn Roth, fingerstyle guitarist and arranger, luthiers Paul Neri and Nathan [...]
![Xavier Jara - GFA Winner<br><font style="e;font-size: 0.65em"e;>Saturday, November 4, 2017</font>](https://ctguitar.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/jara_600_x_600-200x200.jpg?quality=100.3017081513240 "Xavier Jara - GFA Winner<br><font style="e;font-size: 0.65em"e;>Saturday, November 4, 2017</font>")
Rising star Xavier Jara has won numerous awards including first place in the senior division of the prestigious Guitar Foundation of America Competition, as well as in the youth division of the Indiana International Guitar [...]
![Randy Napoleon Trio <br><font style="e;font-size: 0.65em"e;>Saturday, November 18, 2017</font>](https://ctguitar.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/napoleon_600_x_600-200x200.jpg?quality=100.3017081513240 "Randy Napoleon Trio <br><font style="e;font-size: 0.65em"e;>Saturday, November 18, 2017</font>")
Fingerstyle jazz guitarist, has been described by George Benson as “sensational”. He has played on the Today and Tonight Shows, toured with Michael Bublé and Benny Green. Randy Napoleon is a guitarist, [...]
![Scott Sanchez <br><font style="e;font-size: 0.65em"e;>Sunday, January 21, 2018</font>](https://ctguitar.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/sanchez_600_x_600-200x200.jpg?quality=100.3017081513240 "Scott Sanchez <br><font style="e;font-size: 0.65em"e;>Sunday, January 21, 2018</font>")
Opening the Windsor series is Colorado native Scott who is a Yale grad protégé of Ben Verdery. His playing is “very engaging, virtuosic and spirited” —David Leisner. Scott Sanchez's playing has [...]
![Francesco Barone <br><font style="e;font-size: 0.65em"e;>Sunday, February 11, 2018</font>](https://ctguitar.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/barone_600_x_600-200x200.jpg?quality=100.3017081513240 "Francesco Barone <br><font style="e;font-size: 0.65em"e;>Sunday, February 11, 2018</font>")
One of a new breed of classical guitarists from the Hartt School, “brings a strong sense of musical depth…and commentary concerning the music” —Richard Provost. Award winning guitarist Francesco Barone has[...]
![Nick Cutroneo <br><font style="e;font-size: 0.65em"e;>Sunday, March 4, 2018</font>](https://ctguitar.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/cutroneo_600_x_600-200x200.jpg?quality=100.3017081513240 "Nick Cutroneo <br><font style="e;font-size: 0.65em"e;>Sunday, March 4, 2018</font>")
Final concert of the Windsor series, Nick is another up and coming classical guitarist out of the Hartt school, "An Intelligent And Communicative Player With Technical Ease And Natural Musicality. A Real Delight To [...]
![Jose Gonzalez & Criollo Clasico <br><font style="e;font-size: 0.65em"e;>Saturday, April 7, 2018</font>](https://ctguitar.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/criollo_600_x_600-200x200.jpg?quality=100.3017081513240 "Jose Gonzalez & Criollo Clasico <br><font style="e;font-size: 0.65em"e;>Saturday, April 7, 2018</font>")
The most eclectic Caribbean musical ensemble touring today; equally versatile in Latin, classical and jazz idioms. This musical family unit (father and sons) brings a unique and unmatched versatility and energy to any concert [...]
![Guy Van Duser & Billy Novick <br><font style="e;font-size: 0.65em"e;>Saturday, April 28, 2018</font>](https://ctguitar.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/guy_billy_600_x_600-200x200.jpg?quality=100.3017081513240 "Guy Van Duser & Billy Novick <br><font style="e;font-size: 0.65em"e;>Saturday, April 28, 2018</font>")
"Elegant." "Riveting." "Soulful." "Classic mastery." These are a few of the terms that have been used to describe the unique and stunning swing-jazz music of acoustic guitarist Guy Van Duser and clarinetist Billy Novick. [...]
